What Do You Do After a Game?
After a loss, do you evaluate your performance, try to erase it from your memory, or stew in negative emotions?
Losses are inevitable in sports. No matter your ability or talent on your team, you will experience losses, whether it’s a buzzer-beater defeat, a missed opportunity, a critical mistake, an off-day, or a blowout.
If you try to block it out, you will miss valuable learning opportunities and athletic growth. When you wallow in self-pity or stew in negative emotions, your confidence will suffer.
What sets successful competitors apart from the rest is their ability to process losses and learn from those moments. Processing a loss objectively and intentionally helps turn temporary pain into long-term gain.
The Minnesota Lynx, who lost in the 2024 WNBA Finals, started the 2025 season with nine consecutive wins. The Lynx dropped their first game of the season to the Seattle Storm, 94-84.
Despite the outcome, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve downplayed the significance of a single loss. Instead, Reeve remains focused on what is most important, learning and preparing for the next game.
REEVE: “We’re going to do like we always do. We didn’t win a basketball game. We didn’t accomplish the schemes that we were trying to accomplish. We have to get ready for Saturday’s game.”
Likewise, Lynx forward Bridget Carleton highlighted the importance of objectively reviewing the team’s play and improving as a team. Carleton sees this step as crucial if the Lynx are to return to the finals and accomplish their goal of winning a championship.
CARLETON: “Obviously, it’s harder to learn after a loss, but I think it’s a good moment for us to just look inward. They had 50 points in the paint, where we pride ourselves on the defensive end. Things like that just can’t happen if we want to do what we want to do this season, so I think good reminders for us to be better.”
Accomplishing your seasonal goals requires growth and a focus on steady improvement. Processing a loss doesn’t mean minimizing it, blaming others, or obsessing over it.
Rather, processing a loss means using it as a tool for growth. Successful athletes learn from losses so they don’t repeat the same mistakes in future competitions.
Successful athletes take time to reflect, whether internally, with their coach, or with a Mental Game Coach. An objective performance evaluation helps athletes process their emotions, identify positive aspects of their game and parts of their game needing improvement, and helps them reset and prepare for the next competition.
No matter what stage you are in your athletic career, learning to effectively and objectively process competition losses is one of the most important mental skills you can develop.
Not only will it help keep your confidence intact, but it will also provide you with a purpose for practice and give you the motivation to achieve your seasonal goals.
- Focus on the Big Picture – Remember, a loss is just one loss.
- Be Objective – Process the loss honestly while avoiding harsh self-judgments.
- Separate your Ability from the Outcome – Don’t allow one loss or bad performance to define you. View the loss as a stepping stone.
- Solicit Advice – Consult your coach or a Mental Game Coach for feedback to identify any areas you might be overlooking.
- Find the Lessons – Every loss carries valuable insights, whether it’s about preparing differently, identifying mental skills that need improvement, or recognizing what adjustments can be made for future competitions.6. Recommit to the Process – The final step is to take action by creating a plan for improvement and executing it in your next training session.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- How Pro Athletes Respond After a Team Loss
- How to Deal with an Unexpected Sports Loss
- How Athletes Respond to a Loss
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